01/31/2017
In this time of great travesty and atrocious policies, I'd like to share my story again.
Middle school was rough. 2001 brought a terrible tragedy to our nation, one which caused tremendous damage to our country, our community, and our way of thinking. I was in 6th grade when it started; The class went silent as the announcement was broadcasted on the television. We sat and watched in horror as the planes crashed into the towers and screaming people jumped from what seemed like miles to their death below. We then learned about Al Qaeda the next few weeks in school, and it became widely covered in the news. We were shown what terrorists look like, what they believe in, and what they will do to send a message.
I then became a target for a new kind of bullying at school. I was called “towel-head, P**i, Afghani, Iraqi, Muslim, terrorist, Osama..” on a daily basis. Pushed around, I had a few friends, but they too were picked on for their own selves. I was punched, kicked, had things thrown at me; The bully at the bus stop once tried to push me in front of the bus as it approached. All because I looked different, but not everyone who looks different is bad, this was just what we were being told by our own people.
This bullying was completely pointless and empty. To me it was blatant appearance bashing. They had no information of my background, my beliefs, my heritage, or who I really was. It still bothered me, and caused a lot of stress, but this is how bullies are; They are mislead, possibly abused people who know nothing of the situation at almost any given time. After all, I’m an Atheist, and 100% Portuguese. My last name is Mello for f**k's sake.
